Medicaid may become victim of PA’s budget shortfall
Legislators and healthcare professionals are worried that the state’s budget shortfall may mean cuts for Medicaid– at the same time, national studies show that when the economy is bad and people lose jobs, enrollment in Medicaid increases.
State shortchanges nursing homes $5,000 per year per Medicaid resident
A press release issued by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association states that the gap between the cost of caring for Pennsylvania’s frail and elderly in nursing homes and what the commonwealth reimburses for that care under the Medicaid program jumped from $11.91 in 2007 to $13.92 in 2008 – a nearly 17 percent hike.
Another dismal aspect of the healthcare & economy crisises: More people than ever forced into prescription assistance programs, or not even filling their prescriptions at all
A dose of dismal for Hump Day.
State panel says assisted-living regulations need revisions
At a meeting of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) yesterday, the panel said that there is still work to be done on differentiating assisted living residences from personal care homes, reports the Associated Press today.
Healthcare policy on the national level
Kaiser Network News has two recent reports on national healthcare legislation that would affect Pennsylvanians: one on state Medicaid funding, and one on healthcare for veterans.
Philadelphia Inquirer to feature series on casualties of the healthcare system
The first story in the series, published today, tells the story of a man whose cancer treatments left him $27,000 in debt.
Allentown’s Sacred Heart Hospital cut staff by 5 percent
Because of millions of dollars of financial loss each of the past 5 years, Sacred Heart Hospital has decided to try to stay open by cutting its operating costs– thereby cutting 5 percent of its staff.
Philly hospital tax may come to Pittsburgh
The new tax on Philadelphia general hospitals, to take effect in 2009 pending federal approval, could also come to Pittsburgh.
US House report: Drug manufacturers lovin’ Medicare Part D
The Los Angeles Times reports on a US House committee report alleging that U.S. drug manufacturers are reaping a windfall from taxpayers, because Medicare’s privately administered prescription drug benefit program pays more than other government programs for the same medicines.
Economic stimulus package with more state Medicaid money might pass this year
There is a chance that a second economic stimulus package could pass through Congress this year, offering state’s some relief with more funding for their Medicaid programs, reports the Kaiser Network.